Two men have been handed prison sentences of roughly three years for throwing a smoke grenade and a traffic cone at police officers during the volatile protests that followed the killing of student Henry Nowak in Southampton. Connor Bishop , 24, received two years and eight months, while Leon O'Leary, 41, was sentenced to three years and one month, according to the court report.

Leon O'Leary’s three‑year sentence after brandishing a samurai sword

O'Leary was convicted of three offences, including violent disorder and possession of an offensive weapon after police discovered a samurai sword in his bedroom during a June 7 arrest in Basingstoke. the court heard he had a history of nine convictions for 17 offences, and he resisted arrest with a “fighting stance,” prompting officers to use PAVA spray. As reported, the sentencing judge noted his prior record and the seriousness of the weapon charge.

Connor Bishop’s two‑year‑plus term for throwing a traffic cone

Bishop, a Southampton resident, was captured on video carrying a yellow traffic cone that he hurled at officers, then chased after it, picking it up again.. Prosecutor Siobhan Linsley described his actions as “pursuing officers for some time with it.” Bishop also admitted to throwing a box of screws and punching a wall, and he has seven convictions for nine offences, including a recent community order for assaulting his mother.

Protests sparked by Henry Nowak’s death and police body‑cam release

The unrest erupted after a police‑released body‑worn video showed 18‑year‑old Henry Nowak being handcuffed moments before he lost consciousness and died. The murder, carried out by 23‑year‑old Vickrum Digwa, who claimed a false racist attack, led to crowds of about 1,000 people and cost over £400,000 in police funding, according to the court’s evidence.

Unanswered questions about protest leadership and external agitators

While the court identified O'Leary and Bishop as participants, it did not name any organizers or confirm whether individuals from outside Southampton deliberately inflamed the crowd . the prosecutor mentioned “many individuals … turned up from outside the area,” but details remain sparse.

Legal precedent set by the first sentencing in the Nowak riots

These convictions mark the first jail terms handed down for offences linked to the Nowak protests, signaling a tougher judicial response to violent disorder. As the report notes, the sentences may serve as a deterrent for future rioters, though observers warn that underlying community tensions could persist.